NATCHITOCHES -- Eight schools, including host Northwestern State, are set to run in the Demon Invitational cross country meet Friday afternoon at the Walter Ledet Track Complex, with 14 area high schools competing Saturday in the prep division.

The college section Friday begins with a 4 p.m. women's race and a 4:30 men's contest over the same 3-mile course that will be used next month for the annual Louisiana High School Cross Country Championships. Saturday morning's high school competition includes a 10 a.m. girls race and a 10:45 start for the boys.

Colleges competing Friday afternoon are Centenary, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana College, Louisiana-Lafayette, Lon Morris, East Texas Baptist and Xavier, along with Northwestern.

The Lady Demons' top runners this fall have been Karensa Ellis and Lawana Perkins, while Mark Dotson has set the pace all season for the Demons. NSU runs in the Southland Conference Championships next Thursday at Beaumont, Texas.

High schools entered in Saturday's races are Airline, Benton, Bolton, Byrd, Caddo Magnet, Calvary Baptist, Episcopal School of Acadiana, Grace Christian, Hornbeck, Lakeside, Loyola College Prep, Menard, Pineville and Teurlings Catholic.

The start area is behind the Demon Soccer Complex adjacent the track, and the finish line is on the track.